February 16 | Living a Holy Life

Today’s reading from Leviticus 19–20 and Matthew 27 invites us to reflect on what it means to belong to a holy God and how that belonging shapes both covenant identity and redemptive access. In Leviticus, God calls His people to be holy as He is holy, forming a distinct community whose daily lives reflect His character. In Matthew, the death of Jesus and the tearing of the Temple curtain reveal how holiness and access to God are brought together through Christ.In Leviticus 19–20, holiness is expressed in practical obedience. God addresses family relationships, economic justice, worship practices, and cultural distinctiveness, shaping Israel into a people who live differently among the surrounding nations. The laws include moral commands that reflect God’s enduring character, as well as ceremonial markers that set Israel apart in their historical covenant context.In Matthew 27, as Jesus dies and the curtain of the Temple is torn in two, the separation between a holy God and His people is dramatically opened. The barrier guarding the Most Holy Place is removed, signaling that access to God is now available through Christ’s sacrifice. Holiness is no longer maintained through distance, but fulfilled and made accessible through Him.Together, these passages invite us to consider how belonging to a holy God shapes daily life, and how access to His presence through Christ calls us into a life marked by steady, relational transformation over time.